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Ahh, spring break. For college students, it’s a time to sleep in, relax, take a break from their studies, and for some, hit the beaches at places near and far.

Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) students volunteered to be part of GGC’s Alternative Spring Break program, with three groups of students using their time off to help others in Lawrenceville, Georgia, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Jacksonville, Florida.

“Alternative Spring Break is a chance for our students to use their time off to give back to the community, experience other cultures and get a deeper understanding of community needs and environmental issues,” said JP Peters, assistant director of Student Outreach and Service. He said this is the fifth year GGC has offered the Alternative Spring Break program.

GGC students rolled up their sleeves and volunteered with several organizations across all three states. In Lawrenceville, students worked with Gwinnett County Public Schools students at the Junior Achievement Discovery Center, a business-integrated learning center for middle school students that fosters financial literacy, career readiness and the entrepreneurial spirit, and volunteered at the Creative Enterprise, which provides employment and life skills training for adults with disabilities, and Streetwise, a food pantry.

The students in New Orleans spent time volunteering for Common Ground Relief planting trees and making throws out of recycled materials at Grounds Krewe.

“The first time I went it was so amazing, and this time is just as good,” said GGC student Andrew Beltran, an IT software development major. “It’s about the connections you make, the service you do, and it’s a lot of fun!”

In Jacksonville, students volunteered at the Jacksonville SPCA interacting with shelter animals and guiding fourth grade students during the Leaving No Trace relay at the Betz-Tiger Preserve, and doing beach cleanup at Surfrider at Jacksonville Beach.

“In addition to community service, our students had a chance to tour their areas to learn about the cultural and environmental aspects of each city,” said Peters. “Because our students spent time working together, it created a new dynamic for them. They’ve built new friendships that I think will last beyond this experience.”

View and download Alternative Spring Break photos.